Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, a Republican, signed into law a requirement for voters to provide a photo ID in order to vote. The law provides free photo ID cards to registered voters and requires notifying voters of the requirement prior to the next election. The law takes into account the need to prevent voter fraud and provides state voters with free photo IDs if they do not already possess one.

While the law seems to be reasonable and fair, Democrats are decrying it as unfair to senior citizens, the poor, and minorities. The Democrats argue that voter photo ID laws prevent these groups from exercising their right to vote. Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe recently vetoed a similar law in his state. Interestingly, he stated that the cost ($300,000) and the increased bureaucracy were unnecessary.

Democratic opposition to these laws is not only at the state level. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is also stating that voter ID laws are "unnecessary, expensive, and intrusive" and should not be supported. The DNC also adds the young, disabled voters, veterans, and military members to the group of voters having difficulties at the polls. Since military members and veterans already have photo ID cards, they should not be affected by voter ID laws.

The Democrats opposition to preventing voter fraud is interesting. The DNC states that "numerous non-partisan organizations have debunked widespread voter fraud" allegations. Unfortunately, voter registration is plagued with errors and voter fraud has occurred in Iowa. This one incident is not necessarily enough indict Democrats as contributing to voter fraud but it does provide insight into Democrat support for other issues.

The National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter) of 1993 was spearheaded by liberal activists and supported by the Democrats. The act required states to allow voter registration when a "qualifying" voter applied for or renewed a driver's license or applied for social services. It also allowed voters to register through the mail. Unfortunately, the act did not allow in person applications to be challenged or require identification for mail in applications.

Since the Democrats are supporting drivers licenses for illegal immigrants in Maryland, Illinois, and Minnesota, the main question is whether these states can have voter photo ID laws to prevent fraudulent voting. The Motor Voter Act doesn't require proof of citizenship to sign up for voter registration and this may allow illegal immigrants to vote in elections.

The Democrats are supporting immigration reform but are doing so in an ambiguous way. While the DNC states that the immigrants should learn English, pay penalties, and "get right" for their illegal immigration, the DNC refuses to make a statement regarding voter fraud from illegal immigrants.

The ultimate conclusion is that Democrats want to use loopholes in the Motor Voter Act to swell their ranks. By supporting illegal immigrants, Democrats want to increase their support based on quid pro quo rather than on ideological merits. Illegal immigrants can count on Democrats to support them and, in return, illegals can support the Democrats no matter what the issue.

Since the DNC refuses to pay for President Obamas nominating convention, it is difficult for a rational person to believe that the DNCs pontifications are altruistic. Instead, Americans should be skeptical of the DNC and their "welcoming" of illegal immigrants. Voter ID laws would help reduce voter fraud and help citizens mold the nation based on their views. Instead, the DNC is supporting the tried and true Chicago rule of "vote early and often" especially if you are an illegal.

One key thing I've not heard enough of in the immigration debate is the role of Motor Voter in registering non citizen voters. We hear a lot about requiring E-Verify for employment but you would think more importantly we'd need E-Verify for voting. We know that non citizen voters are being registered via the Motor Voter law and are voting. It doesn't appear to be huge numbers but even a few hundred could be enough to swing elections and truthfully before we can offer a "path to citizenship" shouldn't we make sure non-citizens won't be voting?

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is also stating that voter ID laws are "unnecessary, expensive, and intrusive" and should not be supported.

So is requiring the same for buying a gun, but libs do not care about that. They also hope most people won't put two and two together and ask why Dems oppose photo ID for voters when they are pushing for it to be required for a gun purchase. The "media" will be sure and keep these two items as separate as possible.

3
posted on 04/22/2013 3:32:48 PM PDT
by jeffc
(The U.S. media are our enemy)

Voters should be verified. Rand Paul actually addresses this in his plan but still not strongly enough for me. I think both the voter and employer verification process are absolutely essential parts of any immigration reform. If we do not demand that be the case then we are going to find ourselves with an even bigger problem at the polls. Also we need a self sufficiency requirement that is enforced before anyone can become a citizen. Its supposed to be that way already but from what I’ve heard its hardly enforced.

Actually Rand Paul has securing the vote as part of his plan which is not the gang of 8 plan. The gang plan has employment verification via E-Verify if I understand it correctly but the truth is its hard to trust anything that Chuck Schumer has his paws in.

19
posted on 04/22/2013 3:54:01 PM PDT
by Maelstorm
(This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")

As I said in great detail in another thread, Rand Paul is trying to dress up an excrement sandwich. I don’t want to hear any talk of immigration reform that gives these illegals a path to citizenship outside the normal process. I also don’t want to see anything done on the matter until our border is secured with a very large fence, where practicable, and demonstrated enforcement of immigration laws. Until then, the gang of 8 can take their poop sandwich and cram it.

Hell, in Illinois illegals control much of the local governments; in some towns they control all of it (Pilsen, Little Village, just to name a couple). Those two towns are, quite literally, just like being in Mexico. The Mexican flag is displayed most prominently; and if any words in English are spoken they are from some poor doofus who made a wrong turn and ended up there, and his plaintiff cry of “Where the f**k am I?” can be heard.

21
posted on 04/22/2013 4:01:13 PM PDT
by ought-six
( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)

I agree that security needs to be number one. I think that any bill should be split into three parts and voted on separately. 1 Border Enforcement, 2 Employee/Voter Verification, and 3 legal status reform.

If 1 and 2 are not implemented we should not even consider the legal status reform. It would be political suicide.

22
posted on 04/22/2013 4:04:34 PM PDT
by Maelstorm
(This country wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a govt check!")

As a side note to requiring a valid ID to vote, the "right" not to show a valid ID in order to vote not a constitutionally protected right, please consider the following.

Note that the Constitution likewise does not prohibit the states from prohibiting citizens who cannot demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Constitution, as the Founding States had intended for it to be understood, from voting. So just as states appropriately require candidate drivers to pass a written exam in order to drive on public roads, I think that it is likewise appropriate that candidate voters should be required to pass a basic constitutonal knowledge test before being allowed to vote. This would help to prevent citizens who don't know things like Congress's Section 8, Article I-limited powers from voting for candidates for federal office who wrongly promise citizens federal government entitlement programs which cannot be justified under Section 8.

While the law seems to be reasonable and fair, Democrats are decrying it as unfair to senior citizens, the poor, and minorities illegal aliens, liberals attempting to vote multiple times and union reps bused in from other States.

Edited for actual truth.

29
posted on 04/22/2013 4:21:46 PM PDT
by liberalh8ter
(The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)

Wouldn't it be great if you had to pass the same background check to vote as you do to buy a gun. In fact you should get a voter ID card with your carry permit. Conversely, no carry permit no voter ID.

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